Belt buckles



Mry`6, 1958 B B, KREISLER 2,833,015

BELT BUCKLES Filed 0G11. 5, 1955 dwaze/vs;

United AStates *Patent AO c 2,833,015 BELT BUCKLES B Bernard Kreisler, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to Kreisler Corporation, NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New York v v The present invention relates toA novel and improved buckles for mens andywomens belts and generally `for joining the freeends of a beltlwhich is substantially taut when-in use.

The principal object .of this invention is, to lprovide a novel :andimproued belt `buckle of, the :character mentioned, which comprises two releasably engageable parts anchored on the belt ends respectively; the construction of said buckle pants and-the mannerf'of interlocking them, affording a structure `which-involves noe-moving parts to go out of order and no biting into the belt body to cause its'wearl or tear. Further, said buckle parts remain engaged though relatively swung due to body movements of the wearer.

Another object hereofis` to,.provide'a novel and improved belt buckle of the nature set forth, whosel parts are engaged and disengaged by'a'simple manipulation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved belt buckle of the type described, of a construction affording a new mode of operation; said buckle being reasonably -cheap to manufacture, lending itself to such decorative shapes and surface ornamentation as style may .dictate and being efficient in carrying out the functions for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For the practice of this invention, one of the buckle parts includes a trapezoid-shaped plug extending vfrom the belt end said part is attached to; the sloping sides of said trapezoidal plug diverging towards the other belt end. The second buckle part has a socket in its face into which said plug enters freely when the belt ends are brought towards each other. Now, upon separating the belt ends, said plug becomes wedged in said socket which is of trapezoidal cross section and whose sloping sides make the same angle as that between the sloping sides of the plug. Movement of the plug into and out of said socket is lateral to the trapezoidal faces of such plug. The joint structure is somewhat akin to a dove-tail joint with modifications to permit the required plug movements.

ln the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views. y

Fig. l is a perspective view of one of the buckle parts embodying the teachings of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the other buckle part, in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 3 is the left end view 0f Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is the right end view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the assembled buckle.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of Fig. 5, or what may be deemed a face view of the buckle.

In Athe drawings which show one form this invention may assume, the numeral 15 designates generally one of the buckle parts and the numeral 16 indicates the other, each of which has suitable means as for instance the loops 17, 18 and 19 as shown, for being attached to Patented May 6, 1958 ICS . 2` the belt endsfZl), 21 respectively; as for example by the, stitching 22 -and by the vlacing for frictional hold through thelooPS 17, 18 to permit adjustment of belt length as is well known.

Buckle part 15 may be a U-shaped piece oiering a dove-tail channel 15 for the dove-tail male plug 16 which extends forentrance into said channel. Since one end of .said channel has stop means as provided by vthe bars 23,24 to limit the extent of movement of said plug 16' thereinto, I prefer to call the opening into which said plug fits, a socket. The opening of clearance 25 inthe socket permits the plug .1,6 to be swungso that itsthickerl and wider end leaves the socket engagement by arearward 4movement and of course, the plug is free to leave the socket byy a forward movement upon swing ofthe plug in the opposite direction. Regardless `of such'relative positions o f .the buckle parts 15, 16, at least the intermediate portions of the divergent surfaces of the plug willV constantly .engage Vthe divergent surfaces of the socket. Thismeans that bodily movements of the wearer. will never undo .the engagement of the buckle parts. The plug-16 is of course part of the buckle component 16 and is an extension of the `belt lend21. The said plug 16 as well as the socket15' is .trapezoidal as.` shown, and the angles made by their sloping sides respectively, areequal. Entrance and .exit of the plug into the socket is of course by movement of the plug laterally to its trapezoidal faces.

Whenthe buckle .parts are in wedged or locked. condition .as shown `in Eig. .6, the construction is such that there is a clearance A .in the socket 15' anda thinner section at thefattached base of .the plug and the space B, to permit movement of said plug longitudinally of the belt to undo the said wedging action and thus free the plug 16 for removal from said socket 15. To better assure maintenance of the wedging action, should the buckle parts 15, 16 be relatively swung due to body movements of the wearer of the belt, the plug 16 is thickened at its free end 16 and the tines of the -U-piece are thickened at their extremities as indicated by the numeral 15". The bars 23, 24 serve as axe's for the respective swing movements of the plug part 16.

The opening 27 in the socket wall between the divergent opposite walls` of the socket, assures that the plug 16 will be gripped with some resiliency.

As a suggestion for economical manufacture, the buckle herein shown may be made by being die-cast.- Of course, this article may be fabricated in other ways from metal, plastic or other suitable materials.

This invention is'lcapable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment shown herein shall be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

l. In a belt buckle of the character described, two separate parts, each having means for attaching a belt end thereto respectively; the rst of said parts presenting a plug having a pair of opposite end surfaces which diverge in extension of the belt end on said iirst part when such belt end is'on said first part; the second part having a socket into and from which said plug can be entered and removed; said socket having opposite side Walls which diverge in the same direction as said plug surfaces; the angles of both said divergencies being equal, whereby when the plug is inserted into said socket and upon movement of said parts to increase the distance between their belt-attaching means, said parts will become engaged by assaultl said plug becoming wedged in said socket betweensaid divergent side walls of the socket; said socket having clearance whereby .the parts `can be moved to decrease the distance between their belt-attaching means, whereupon said AAplug"willi-become `released -for` removal fromv the socketsaid parts -whiletin engagement;` being swingable with respect to one another iniopposite'directions, whereby the widest `end of the plugwill leave'the `divergent walls of the socket in one direction `and then in the other direction `when the plug is swung one Wayland then the other with respectto said second part(I 1 A 2. The-belt buckle as dened in claim 1, wherein the wall offthe socket between its divergent walls, is provided with Lan opening therethrough commencing at the entrance of? said socket, whereby said divergent walls of the socket-'grip `the plug with someresilien'cywhen the plug is engaged in said socket;k

3.1`1The belt buckleas defined` in claim 2,v` wherein theV plug extends throughsaid socket wall opening when said plugis in thesocket. i g

4. The belt buckle as defined' in` claim` l, `wherein the plug is comparatively thinner at its narrower region and thicker at` its wider Vregion and whereinthe second part is comparatively thinner where it contacts` the thicker part '25 part of theplug.

of the `plug and thicker where it contacts the thinner part oftheplug.

k5. In a belt buckle of the character described, two separate parts, each having meansfor attaching a belt end thereto respectively; thetirstv of said parts presenting aplug havinga pair of opposite end surfaces which diverge inextension of the 4-belt end on said irstpart when such belt end is on such firstv part; the second part being U-shaped; the opposed inn'eredges of the arms of said` U-shape being divergent in the Vsame direction as said plug surfaces; the angles of both said divergencies l' being equal, whereby kwhen said plug is inserted between said arms and upon movement of saidparts to increase the distance between their belt-attaching means, said parts will become engaged by said plug becoming wedged be tween said arms; said second part having clearance whereby the parts can be moved to decrease the distance between their belt-attachingmeans, whereupon the plug will become released for removal from said second part, and an element secured toaface of at least one of said arms` and extending `towards theother of said arms, serving as a stopfor the plug when said pluguis set, between said arms; said parts while in engagemenh'being swingable with `respect to one another in opposite directions wherebyL the 'widest `end of the plug will leave the divergent edges of the `lJ-shapedpart f in one direction and then in the other direction when the plug is swung one way and then the other with respect to said second part; saidv element serving also as the axis of swing of the plug with respect to said rst part.

6. ,The belt buckle as defined in claim 5, wherein the plug is comparatively thinner at its narrower region and thicker at its wider region and wherein the second part is comparatively thinner where it contacts the thicker part of the plug and thicker where it contacts `the thinner References Cit-odin the tile of this patent y "UNITED STATES "PATENTS 446,380 Davis Feb. 10, 1891 1,196,617 Truesdeu Aug. 29, 1916 lFOREIGN PATENTS 35 "113,315 Ausweg-: June 26, 1941 

